Rally driver chases title

Photo: Contributed

With the help of his co-driving wife, Jackie, Kelowna driver Mark Jennings-Bates is looking to flex a little rally muscle this weekend in Merritt.

Merritt will be home to the national-ranked Pacific Forest Rally, which is drawing almost 40 teams from across Canada and the U.S.

Merritt has long been home to some top notch rally action and is often the deciding rally for the championship in the national series before teams head to Ontario for the penultimate event and then come back to B.C. for the Big White Winter Rally.

Jennings-Bates, who had taken several years off while pursuing other adventures and driving for Bowler Off-Road Motorsports in the U.K., is competing in a classic Mitsubishi Evo 4. After warming up at the Rocky Mountain rally in May, the team were forced to step back and work on the “new to them” car, which had several mechanical failures at the event and led to an early retirement.

“Rocky was a disappointment, we should have finished in the top 10, but the rally gods determined otherwise,” said Jennings-Bates. “This time out, we have a stronger car, with refreshed components, and with some good fortune we can get to the finish line rather than just crossing the start line.”

The team believes they have the ability to finish in the top 10 at this event and are hoping to set some top five times on some of the stages.